Here’s a look at what was happening in the drinks industry on this day in …

If headlines were to be believed last year, the craft beer category was not in a good way. As some smaller players merged to grow scale, others were being sold on by their sugar-daddy owners. And, what of the staff shake-outs we were seeing? Category commentator Stephen Beaumont surveyed the ‘wreckage’.

While the gin category continued to hog the drinks industry headlines two years ago, our spirits commentator, Richard Woodard, had some sage advice for those interested in jumping on the bandwagon.

Back in 2018, C&C Group exited a US distribution deal with Pabst Brewing Co and reclaimed control of its cider brands in the country.

In August 2015, UK-based Berry Bros & Rudd appointed Dan Jago as its CEO. The former group wine director at Tesco subsequently oversaw a period of overhaul at the near-320-year-old wine and spirits group. just-drinks met up with Jago to learn more about the changes he introduced. 

The heads of UK-headquartered Diageo and SABMiller signed a letter five years ago, calling for the UK to remain in the European Union, prior to the referendum on the matter.

In 2014, Asahi Breweries saw its Nikka Japanese whisky brand break the 1m-unit barrier in Europe for the first time.

The head of E&J Gallo’s European operations defended the company’s launch of the New Amsterdam vodka brand in the UK, despite a dip in vodka sales in the country.

Cachaça was set to be recognised as a “distinctive product of Brazil” in the US from April 2013 after the authorities published a final ruling on the long-running bid.

The US arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev lined up an US$80m investment in its can-producing facility in Missouri.

Ten years ago, E&J Gallo Winery’s VP of marketing extolled the virtues of family-owned companies in the wine industry.

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